Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-41-CU Commando in Rio Capim: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-NMF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Carolina – Belém
MSN:
26971
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Carolina to Belém-Va-de-Cans Airport, the left engine failed, caught fire then exploded. The crew informed ATC about his situation when few minutes later, the right engine lost power. The crew was forced to jettison few of the cargo and the captain elected to ditch the aircraft into the Rio Capim, some 230 km south of Belém. The aircraft floated about 15 minutes then sank and was lost. Three crew members were rescued while the fourth drowned.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine following the detachment of a propeller blade in flight.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in Belém

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-BTQ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10506
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, at V2 speed, the crew decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the four engine aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest into trees. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Poor flight preparation on behalf of the crew who failed to follow the pre-takeoff checklist and started the takeoff procedure with the controls locked. The crew realized that the controls were still locked once the V2 speed was reached and immediately initiated an emergency braking procedure.

Crash of a Boeing 247D in Belém

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PT-APO
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1720
YOM:
1933
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Belém-Val-de-Cans Airport, one of the engine caught fire. The crew attempted an emergency landing in a swampy area past the runway end. The aircraft came to rest and was damaged beyond repair while both crew members were slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Engine fire after takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed L-049-46-21 Constellation near Manaus: 50 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1962 at 0020 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PP-PDE
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Belém – Manaus
MSN:
2047
YOM:
1946
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
43
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
50
Circumstances:
The Panair Constellation departed Belém at 02:31 GMT for a 3-hour flight to Manaus-Ponta Pelada Airport. The plane followed the Amber 1 airway and contacted Manaus at 05:04, reporting six minutes out. At 05:19 the flight crew asked Manaus whether the plane's engines could be heard. Manaus replied negative and asked the reason for the question. Nothing more was heard from the flight, which appeared to have crashed 45 km from Manaus. The Constellation named 'Estevao Ribeiro Baiao Parente' was completely destroyed and all 50 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was not determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-7C in Belém

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-PDL
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Manaus – Belém
MSN:
45122
YOM:
1957
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An hour after his departure from Manaus-Ponta Pelada Airport, the captain informed ATC that the primary hydraulic system failed. He was able to continue the flight and to complete a normal landing at Belém-Val de Cans Airport. After touchdown, when the reverse thrust systems were applied, the crew lost control of the airplane that veered off runway to the right. While contacting soft ground, the undercarriage were sheared off and the airplane came to rest into a ravine. There were no injuries among the occupants but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The primary hydraulic system failed in flight, causing a major hydraulic leak. Upon landing, the reverse thrust and braking systems were partially inoperative.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Belém: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-BTF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Belém – São Luis
MSN:
26944
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Belém-Val-de-Cans Airport, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all six occupants were killed. The crew was completing a cargo flight to São Luis with a load of four tons of various goods on board.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando near Babaçulândia: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-BEE
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pedro Afonso – Belém
MSN:
27051
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route to Belém-Val-de-Cans Airport, the right engine caught fire. The crew elected to extinguish the fire but without success. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in flames. Two crew members were killed while the third occupant was injured.
Probable cause:
A fuel line broke in flight, causing the fuel to leak in the engine and to catch fire while contact high temperature elements.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Belém: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-BTA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
26901
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Belém-Val-de-Cans Airport, the pilot-in-command made a turn to the right a low height when control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in Belém: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1958 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-LEQ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Manaus – Belém
MSN:
10544
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
When transmitting its position to SBBE (Belém-Val-de-Cans) tower, over "Piranha" reporting point, the aircraft reported it was descending on "night time visual". Failing to obtain subsequent contact with the aircraft, the tower asked a Catalina aircraft, flying over SBBE at the time, to proceed to the above mentioned reporting point in order to check what had gone wrong. The accident was then discovered. Six crew members and four passengers were killed and one passenger was seriously injured. It appears the aircraft crashed in the Maraso Bay off the Carnapijo Island.
Probable cause:
In spite of every effort by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission, it proved impossible to establish the cause of the accident.

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A-FA Packet in Belém: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CEF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
10200
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Belém-Van de Cans Airport, while climbing, the airplane banked left, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The left engine caught fire and exploded shortly after rotation.